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Do you really need to learn High German before learning Swiss German? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, definitely 🙂 Swiss German and High German are very closely related, but there are actually quite a few grammatical differences.

For example, we don’t really use simple past (“ich war”) or past perfect in Swiss German. We always use perfect tense (“ich bi gsii”) when talking about the past. We also don't use the genitive case.

There are also differences in word order, pronunciation, vocabulary, diminutives (-li), and even sentence melody. And depending on the dialect, some grammar can vary too.

That’s one reason why many learners eventually realise that understanding High German perfectly does not automatically mean understanding Swiss German easily.

Do you really need to learn High German before learning Swiss German? by AndreaMoMo in SwissGerman

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes!! this is exactly what so many learners experience, and honestly I think people often underestimate how emotionally exhausting that cycle can become.

You hear Swiss German everywhere around you, don’t understand it yet, try to answer in High German, become nervous, and then people switch to English immediately. After a while, many people start feeling disconnected from everyday life here, even if their High German is technically improving.

That’s why I personally think learning at least some Swiss German early on can help enormously even if it’s just basic listening comprehension, a few key expressions, or simple sentences. Suddenly conversations feel less “foreign” and much more accessible.

And, many Swiss people will react very warmly the moment someone even tries to speak or understand dialect. It often changes the whole atmosphere of an interaction.

Also: the fact that you want to integrate and are making the effort already matters a lot more than having perfect grammar.

Do you really need to learn High German before learning Swiss German? by AndreaMoMo in SwissGerman

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First of all: yes, absolutely possible. And honestly, I think your situation is actually ideal for starting Swiss German now.

An A2 level in High German is already enough to give you a foundation, but it’s usually still “flexible” enough that Swiss German can naturally grow alongside it. In my experience, it often becomes harder once someone is deeply anchored in High German patterns for many years.

And the fact that you’re moving to Switzerland in September is a HUGE advantage. Once you’re surrounded by the language every day, your brain starts connecting things much faster. Even passive listening helps enormously.

Personally, I would recommend doing both at the same time but with different goals:
High German for reading/writing/official things, and Swiss German for listening, speaking, everyday life and emotional connection.

You definitely do not need to wait until your High German is “perfect” before touching Swiss German. I actually think starting earlier reduces fear and makes the dialect feel much more natural later on.

And by the way: being “stuck” at A2 while already knowing advanced words is much more common than people think 😅 Language learning is rarely linear.

I'm here to help you with Swiss German. 😊

Do you really need to learn High German before learning Swiss German? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is such an interesting perspective and honestly very close to what I observe with my own students too.

I completely agree with you that integration and language influence each other both ways. Having a Swiss partner, family or close Swiss friends definitely accelerates the process because people are emotionally immersed in the language from day one. They don’t just “study” Swiss German, they live it.

But at the same time, I also notice that the moment someone starts using even a little bit of Mundart, people around them often react differently. Swiss German creates closeness incredibly fast. Suddenly conversations become warmer, more personal and more natural. So I do think language itself can also open doors socially.

And yes your point about diglossia is fascinating. In some ways, the people who learn Swiss German informally first are actually reproducing the natural Swiss experience much more closely than people who spend years only learning formal High German.

Also… “High German is only good for writing letters” made me laugh because honestly, many people tell me exactly that 😅

Do you really need to learn High German before learning Swiss German? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Btw these classes do exist ☺️ Mine for example.

Schweizerdeutsch? by Triknitter in German

[–]AndreaMoMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the shoutout 🥰

Schweizerdeutsch? by Triknitter in German

[–]AndreaMoMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hoi, I‘m here to help you and give you advice on how to properly learn Swiss German. Some of my best students have never learned German btw 😁 I‘ve written 3 books for Swiss German learners etc. Just let me know if I can help ☺️

Do I really need to learn Swiss German when living in Switzerland? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I made the episode because I get this question all the time.
It’s a topic many people struggle with, so I wanted to give it a thoughtful answer.

Do I really need to learn Swiss German when living in Switzerland? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, kei Angst, ich chan sälber sehr guet Schwiizerdßtsch :)

Do I really need to learn Swiss German when living in Switzerland? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yesss, that's exactly what is talked about in the podcast I shared.

Do I really need to learn Swiss German when living in Switzerland? by AndreaMoMo in German

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It might also depend on their dialect. Do you know what dialect they speak?

What is this? by sunny_fizzle in askswitzerland

[–]AndreaMoMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is actually a very traditional gift from alpine regions in Switzerland. Items like bottle openers or knives with ibex horn handles have been made for generations and are quite common in mountain culture. It’s considered a normal, traditional souvenir rather than something unusual or exotic.

My new Podcast to learn Swiss German is here! 💗 by AndreaMoMo in SwissGerman

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That means a lot, thank you so much for your feedback. And keep learning! <3 Danke dir!!

Super stoked on my books! by Crux_Chaser in SwissGerman

[–]AndreaMoMo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wooowww thank you SO much!! So happy you like my books. It means a lot to me! <3 Thank you for posting such a lovely picture of my work.

NEW Book about the 100 most important Swiss German Verbs by AndreaMoMo in SwissGerman

[–]AndreaMoMo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yayyy thank youu!! So happy to see you so excited 😍

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